Ben Roethlisberger AKA “Big Ben” is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history. Since being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004, he has become a household name, leading the team to multiple Super Bowl victories and earning countless accolades along the way. But is he a future Hall of Famer?
Hall of Fame Statistics
Over his 18-year career, he has thrown for 64,088 yards, with 418 touchdown passes and a passer rating of 93.5. He is the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 500 yards in three separate games. He has also led the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles and earned six Pro Bowl selections.
These numbers are no doubt impressive and put Ben Roethlisberger in the conversation for the Hall of Fame. However, Roethlisberger’s career was marked by periods of excellence followed by inconsistency. In some seasons, he was one of the most dominant quarterbacks in the league, while in others, he struggled to find his rhythm.
For example, during the 2018 season, Roethlisberger had one of the best years of his career. He threw for 5,129 yards, with 34 touchdown passes and played in all 16 games. However, the following year was a different story. In 2019, Roethlisberger was sidelined after 2 games with an elbow injury that required surgery and ended his season.
Roethlisberger’s inconsistency is one factor that could hurt his chances of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. We also can’t ignore the off the field drama that caused him to serve a 4 game suspension in 2010.
Steelers Legend
That said, we cannot ignore Roethlisberger’s impact on football. He led the Steelers for over a decade, shaping their identity as a team. Big Ben is known for making clutch plays in critical situations, and his toughness and resilience earned him respect from his peers. He was often described as a defensive player playing quarterback. Roethlisberger would often push aside would be tacklers and extend the play like none other could.
There were plenty of highlights during Roethlisberger’s career. One of his signature moments came during Super Bowl XLIII vs the Arizona Cardinals. Down three with 43 seconds to go Roethlisberger fired a dart into the corner of the end zone and Santonio Holmes made an amazing toe tap grab. It propelled the Steelers to the Super Bowl victory and was one of the greatest catches of all time.
Overall, Ben Roethlisberger’s case for the Hall of Fame is strong. His career statistics are impressive, and he has led the Steelers to multiple Super Bowl victories. He has also shown resilience and toughness, playing through injuries and overcoming adversity. However, his off-field controversies and inconsistency could hurt his chances of being inducted as a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Regardless of when Roethlisberger makes it to the Hall of Fame (and he will), there is no denying the impact he has had on the NFL and the Steelers franchise. He will be remembered as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in league history and a true warrior on the field.
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